It is hard to plan ahead and reserve when we don't know when conditions will permit hiking. In general how long after Tioga Rd opens might reasonable conditions exist for a hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Water Wheel Falls and out by way of May Lake? I am thinking about putting in a reservation for 6-14 to 6-18. I would like to go as early as reasonable to get good flow in the river. I don't however want to wade my way there or need snow shoes. I can adjust my reservation if my timing is off. What indications can I use to help determine if the season is going to be early or late?

Those dates should be just fine unless we get a late snow year.(which would probably cause Tioga not to be open anyway)07-09 woulda been just fine. 05-06... prob not. def. not for 06.I'm sure some people are gonna say "we had to wade on such and such a date".If it gets too much for you then just turn around. You should be able tomake it to White Cascade w/o too much issue.

I agree. The last couple of miles toward May Lake are a steep northernish exposure and may keep snow well into July. If things are bad there though you can go down the Murphy Creek trail to 120 at Tenaya Lake.

I did the Toulumne to Glen Aulin, down to Waterwheel and back on the weekend of 5/31/08...10 days after the road opened. That was a great trip it was no real problems, a bit of old snow on shaded portions of the trail which can be a little tricky on the steep parts, like just above Glen Aulin. In the flat valley bottoms between Glen Aulin and Waterwheel Falls the trail was covered in some places by up to a foot or two of water, creating some interesting detours and route finding, as we didn't have either hip waders or a desire to go barefoot for a half mile in the snowmelt.

Snow accumulation and snowmelt rate/stream flow will all come into play, but it should be generally doable at that time. Its a great time to see a lot of water going down the river and falls!

I can't comment on the route out to May Lake but as its a bit higher I would expect a bit more lingering snow to deal with.

QuoteBearproof
In the flat valley bottoms between Glen Aulin and Waterwheel Falls the trail was covered in some places by up to a foot or two of water, creating some interesting detours and route finding, as we didn't have either hip waders or a desire to go barefoot for a half mile in the snowmelt.

The western end of Glen Aulin is typically flooded during the spring melt since there is a seasonal watercourse that drains the area around Mattie Lake and works its way down to the Tuolumne River just to the east of Wildcat Point.

Some things cannot be known and one is how much snow is going to pile up during the rest of this winter since most is still to come. Thus you will just have to wait. The last significant storms usually occur by mid April so that would be the better time to check on conditions and then make plans. Usually mid June would be ok for a trip down the river after an average winter.

Yes I plan to check later on. I can change my reservation if the weather forces me to. I am partly wondering what clues will help me decide how early or late the season is going. Tioga road opening is somewhat of a yardstick. How long after that the trail becomes reasonable might be consistent.

Mosquito repellent or you will suffer through the meadows. Learned the hard way last year. The meadows were really saturated with water as well so be prepared for some inventive muddy waterlogged crossings but otherwise beautiful as always.